Metering valve



March 11, 1930. T. w. CULMER ET A1.

METERING VALVE Filed Feb. l, 1 929 2 Sheets-Sheet l lll 2@ v, i 5 Q fw C Z sfr- /4/ a me?" 1 NTO M 5 B ATTORNEY .March 11, 1930.

T. w. CULMER ET A1. 1,749,802

METERING VALVE Filed Feb. l, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS A TTORNEY UITED STAT FICE Application tiled tebru l,

The Vinvention. here described and illus=. trated relates to improvements in valves which are broadly of the gate type and in which it is desired to control the flow of ma- 'ktjterial with great accuracy. lln using such valves lor metering purposes the regulation is mainly dependent upon the How characteristics ot the duid and where liquids inu volved slight changes inthe pressure dinmer #ldential and the resistance odered by the valve itselt have marked eect upon the accuracy of the valve. We have discovered that greater eciency in metering can be obtained by an improved arrangement of valve leaves opere l5 ating as an iris diaphragm.

A further object of the invention is to pre vent such a valve from leaking under the ordinary operating conditions.

A further object of our invention is to pro 90 vide simple and ei'lective mechanism tor simultaneously adjusting the valve leaves.

@ther objects et our invention will be apparent from the following description or our preferred form oi the invent-ion as illustrated 25 by yway ora example in the accompanying drawings, in which.9

Figure l is a side elevation with the cover plate removed;

`Tlig. 2 is an end elevation;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal. section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

liig. l is a. vertical transverse section on the line M of llig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in end elevation ot the series of valve leaves forming an iris diaphragm;

llig. ti is a similar View with the valve in mid-position Fig. 7 is a similar View showing the valve in closed position, and

Figu 8 is an expanded side elevation o'i the tension device. l

As illustrated in these drawings, the invention consists essentially in a valve casing having inlet and outlet ports with an adjustable iris diaphragm mounted on the latter.. This diaphragm is held in position and controlled against leakage by means which -form a continuation of the inlet port and maintain the individual leaves of the diaphragm in close Contact each with the others but without interfering with the ready adjust= oi trie diaphragm. The adjusting means is carried independently of the leali preventing means and thus is tree trom ten sion existing in the latter.

ds shown in the drawings our improved valve comprises easing or body A to the opposite ends of which are attached the eonnecn tions for the inlet and the outlet. l bonnet portion E forms the upper part oi" the casing A. The front wall or the casing has cover plate C, while a valve operating stem D extends vertically through the bonnet B and is controlled in turn by the hand wheel E Thecasing el has opposite end walls l and E2, to which the inlet and outlet are attached. A top 3 is *formed to provide in conjunction with the back Ll and the cover plate C, a eham ber 5 which extends upwardly into the bonnet The cover plate C is removably held in place on the casing il and the bonnet B by mea-ns el bolts 6 or other suitable fastenn ing means @n the bonnet portion B there is a boss 'l having a bore therethrough to accommodate the sliding stem l). A stuing bon 8 is fitted on the boss Z to prevent leakage A yoke 9 is bolted or otherwise mounted on the bonnet B and has a thrust bearing 10 at its upper portion in alignment with the bore in the boss 7. may be adjusted The end l ot the casing A has an extension ll through which 'there is a bore l2. This bore is enlarged as shown at 13 and extends inward toward the chamber 5 from which it is separated by a reduced shoulder A.

The opposite end wall 2 of' the casing A has a similar extension l5. This has an internally screw threaded bore 16 extending therethrough to within a short distance ol the inner wall ot the casing. This orms an enlarged portion 17. A reduced shoulder separates the enlarged portionll :trom the chamber 5.

Mounted in the extension 1l is a bushing or thimble i9 upon which the operative parts oit the valve diaphragm are mounted. This bushing has a central cylindrical portion 21D By this means the valve operating stem closely fitting in the enlarged portion 13 of extension 11. The bushing 19 extends beyond the member 11 to form a tool engaging portion 21 having a threaded bore. The opopposite end of the bushing 19 is a screw threaded extension 22 extending past the shoulder 14 and into the chamber 5. The outer end 21 is screw threaded as shown at 24.

The inner extension is connected to the central bore 23 of the member 19 and carries on its outer' periphery a ring 25 by which the member 19 is drawn tightly into the casing to compress the packing 26 against the shoulder ,14. The ring 25 has a smooth plane face on its inner surface 27 which forms a valve seat and which carries a series of pivot studs 28, uniformly spaced about the center of the ring and projecting sufiiciently from its surface to form bearings or pivots for one of the series of valve leaves.

These valve leaves, 29, are adapted to oscillate upon the studs 28 and constitute the actual fluid controlling elements of the valve as is shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

A leaf 29 is pivoted on each pin 28 and these leaves take the form shown in Fig. 5. Each leaf is apertured as at 30 to forman opening preferably of the same diameter as the bore 23 although for purposes of varying the control of How, this opening may be larger or smaller as circumstances demand. The leaf 29 is provided near its outer edge with an opening 31 of appropriate size to receive a. stud 28 about which the leaf is tovoscillate.

A slot 32 runs inwardly from the outer edge 4compacted relation against the valve seat 27 by means operating from the opposite wall of the chamber 5. This means, in the form shown, is an adjunct of the thimble or bushing 33 shown in detail in Fig. 8. This bushing has a threaded central portion 34 by mea-ns of which it is held within the'extension 15, its outer end 35 projecting beyond the bushing 15 to receive a tool by which the element may be threaded into the extension 15. The opposite end of t-he thimble 33 forms a sleeve 36 of reduced diameter and terminating in a small bearing flange 37. Opposite slots 38 extend longitudinally of the sleeve 36 l as shown in Fig. 8. The thimble 33 has a cenwhich may be passing between the inlet and the outlet will serve to maintain the leaves in close contact and substantially leak proof when the latter are in the closed positions as indicated in Fig. 7.

It is found however that under certain circumstances it is desirable to insure the close contact between the individual leaves of the diaphragm and. for this purpose additional means are provi-ded for holding them together. This has the added advantage of compensating for any small variations in proportion of the parts in manufacture or assembly. To carry out this purpose we provide a sleeve 43 having an internal bore equal to that of the passageway 23 and 39. This sleeve 43 is slidably carried in the enlargement 40. Two diagrammatically opposite pins or lugs 44 extend outwardly from the sides of the sleeves and pass through the slots 38, 38 in the member 36. A ring 45 is loosely mounted outwardly of the extension 36 and rests against the pins 44, 44 as shown in Fig. 3. A spirals ring 46 is compressed between the wall ofJ the chamber 5 and the ring 45. In this way the spring 46 being constantl under compression, urges the ring 45 and in irectly the sleeve 43 against the iris diaphragm.

The leaves of the iris diaphra m are caused to operate and thus vary the e ectivel size of the opening between the sleeve 43 and the bore 23. To accomplish this result a ring 47 is rotatabl mounted upon the reduced bearing flange 37,. A series of pins 48 equal in mmh ber to the leaves, is provided on the inner face of the ring 47 and suitably spaced so that one pin 48 will move in each slot 32 of the leaves.

AOn the opposite side of the ring 47 and as shown in Fig. 4 there is -provided a stud 49 which receives a connecting rod 50. The 0 posite end of the connecting rod 50 is pivotal y held by the lower end of the rising stem 51 which forms part of the stem D. The upper end of the stem 51 is screw-threaded as at 52 to ass through the hand wheel E.

n operation the valve is assembled through the cover plate C, the sleeve 43 being sufliciently retracted in the opening 40 to permit the insertion of the individual leaves 29. The latter are connected to the pins on the ring 47 and adjustment is accomplished by the 4partial rotation of ring 47. Ring 47 ywill respond to the vertical movement of the stem 51 which latter by reason of its linkage is prevented from rotating with the hand wheel E.

It will be a parent that the ring 47 rests on the journalp37 and is not affected by the movement of the spring 46Y or the pressure within the casing.

We have illustrated the successive leaves of the iris diaphragm as being assembled in the usual order around the axis but this order may be varied and opposite leaves be brought into contact thus rendering the adjustment of the orifice more rapid. Figure 5 illustrates nmaeoa the Wide open position of the valve IWith all of the apertures 30 in registration with the bore 23. Partial rotation of the ring 47 Will cause the pins 48 to travel counter-clockwise as shown in Figz and thus partially restrict the opening through the apertures 30. Continued rotation of the ring 47 will bring the leaves 29 into the positions shown in Fig.. 7 in which the apertures 30 occupy positions opposite the adjacent leaves and thus completely close the bore-23.`

Under ordinary circumstances the pressure of the incoming fluid or liquid Will serve to keep the leaves in leak proof contact when the valve is in the closed position.

However this condition is assured by providing the slidable sleeve 43 Which While permitting the oscillation of theleaves in the iris diaphragm will nevertheless holdthem in close Contact when adjusted and assist the force of the incoming fluid to prevent leakage through the valve in case the latter is closed. f

The above description .is of our preferred form of the invention but numerous changes may be made Within the scope of the invention as provided in the following claims.,

We claim:

l. In combination, a casing, a Huid inlet, an outlet, an iris diaphragm mounted on said outlet, means for adjusting the diaphragm, a sleeve, and means for resiliently holding the sleeve against the diaphragm.

2. In combination, a casing, a fluid inlet, an outlet, an iris diaphragm mounted on said outlet, means for adjusting the diaphragm, a sleeve carried by the inlet and means for resiliently holding the sleeve against the diaphragm.

3. In combination, a casing, a fluid inlet, an outlet, an iris diaphragm mountedon said outlet, means for` adjusting the diaphragm, and a sleeve slidably carried by the inlet and a spring forcing the sleeve into Contact with the diaphragm.

4. In combination, a casing, a fluid inlet,

an outlet, an iris diaphragm mounted on saiol outlet, a tubular member movably extending to the iris from the inlet, a ring carried thereon and operatively connected to the iris diaphravm.

5. In combination, a casing, a fluid inlet, an outlet, a series of leaves pivoted to said outlet, a tubular member movably extending to the iris from the inlet, a ring carried thereon and operating means connecting the leaves with the ring.

6. In combination, a casing, a fluid inlet, an outlet, a series of leaves pivoted to said outlet, a tubular extension for the inlet, a ring rotatably carried thereon, means connecting the leaves with the ring, a sleeve slidable Within the extension and means for resiliently holding the sleeve against the leaves.

7 In combination, a casing, a fluid inlet,

an outlet, including a valve seat, an iris diay phragm mounted on said valve seat, a tubular extension for the inlet, a ring carried thereon, operating means connecting the diaphragm with the ring, a sleeve slidable Within the extension and means for resiliently holding .the sleeve against the diaphragm.

8. In combination, a casing, a fluid inlet, an outlet, an iris diaphragm mounted on said outlet, operating means for the diaphragm, a slotted tubular extension for the inlet, a sleeve slidable Within the extension, pins on said sleeve passing through the slotted tubular extension and a spring acting on the pins for holding the sleeve against the diaphragm.

In testimony whereof, We ama our signatures.

llI-IADDEUS W. CULMER. WILLIAM K. MARBRY. 

